THERE should not be any discrimination when it comes to basic necessities, National Human Rights Society’s (Hakam) M. Ramachelvam.

The Hakam president slammed a ridiculous suggestion by a Malacca executive councillor to restrict foreigners from purchasing locally produced rice as a means to overcome the country’s shortage.

“The foreigners working in Malaysia are here lawfully. They should be entitled to basic necessities – food, shelter, and clothing.

“We should not be discriminatory on the issue of a basic necessity – in this case, rice – whether one is a foreigner or local,” Ramachelvam told The Malaysian Insight. 

On Thursday, Malacca Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Dr Akmal Saleh suggested the government restrict the sale of locally produced rice to only Malaysians. 

In view of the shortage of local white rice, Akmal, who is also the Umno Youth chief, said such a policy was necessary, given that the rice was subsidised by the government. 

“So when there is a decline in supply in the market, locals should be given priority over foreigners (to purchase local rice). 

“If the ministry cannot allow this throughout Malaysia, it can at least implement it in Malacca,” Akmal said in a Facebook post.

Ramachelvam said the suggestion to prioritise locals over foreigners ridiculous was. 

He said the government should not discriminate against people based on their nationality.

“I would say it is an absurd proposal by this honourable member of the Malacca assembly. 

“Most of the foreign workers in our country are employed in the low-skilled sector, drawing very basic income. 

“We should not be discriminating in this manner. It is unwarranted and unjust,” he said.  

Ramachelvam, who is also the co-chairman of the Bar Council’s Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Committee, said it would be impossible for the government to police such a matter, if the proposal was accepted. 

In return, it would cost the government more, he said. 

“The employers can always buy on behalf of the workers. So how are you going to police this type of thing?

“In the end, policing will cost more,” he said. 

Ramachelvam said instead of discriminating, he called on Malaysians to have empathy for foreigners here to earn a living. 

Other ways to resolve rice shortage

Former Klang lawmaker Charles Santiago also slammed the proposal, saying it would further burden the already vulnerable foreign workers.  

“To say only locals should get the local rice makes no sense. 

“If we don’t give them (migrant workers) rice, who is going to work? One needs energy to work,” the activist-turned-politician told The Malaysian Insight. 

With the country’s rice production reducing over the last three years, Santiago urged the government to come up with solutions to resolve the shortage without burdening the public. 

Santiago suggested talking to the Asean bloc in the interim, as many member countries are rice producers.

“So, what we can do is to have a short-term arrangement with them and go on some kind of a barter deal.  

“For instance, we could barter rice for palm oil for a certain period. In that way, we actually mitigate the issue and not allow the prices to increase. 

“Have some sort of understanding for a short run until the local production stabilises,” the former chair of Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights added. 

Earlier this week the Dewan Rakyat raised concerns over domestic rice shortage and raised prices for imported rice when debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review. 

Wee Jeck Seng (Tanjung Piai-BN) urged the government to take immediate action to address the 38% shortage in rice supply for local consumption. 

He said the country faced fierce competition from Indonesia, which has a 42% shortage in its local supply, and the Philippines, the largest rice importer in Southeast Asia, with imports valued at US$1.3 billion (RM6.1 billion) in 2021. – September 16, 2023.